The proper question is why-the-f**k big pharma price gouging pirates are not slammed hard against the wall by a responsible government and told to stop their hateful antics, yesterday? So slammed repeatedly as much as needed to cause a message of change toward a humane attitude to seep through. Forever, if needed.
When owned mainstream media outlets reach reality in such a fashion, progress will be feasible. Until then, this crock:
Death, War, Pestilence and Famine - with smiles. People are dying while these untethered dogs piss where they please.
____________UPDATE____________
In fairness, Strib's edidorial board in the same morning's online posting did write:
The American Health Care Association, an influential nursing home lobbying organization, had petitioned for the change, arguing that federal inspectors should focus more on helping facilities improve vs. finding violations. The group told President Donald Trump in a letter last month that it is “critical that we have relief.”
It’s hard to have much sympathy for this after the Star Tribune series. The stories detailed anguished families’ struggles for accountability after sexual assaults and other disturbing abuse. Larger fines and making a public example out of facilities where serious harm has occurred are reasonable responses to prevent future harm.
While nursing home quality appears to be improving nationally, there’s still a clear need for a heavier — not lighter — hand by federal officials, who share oversight with states. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 21 percent of nursing homes nationally had received a “deficiency for a serious quality violation” in 2015. That’s an improvement from 26 percent a decade before, but still far too high, especially when this category includes infractions that led to actual harm or potential harm of residents.
The federal moves should give Minnesota policymakers even more impetus to strengthen state elder care protections. Minnesota’s congressional delegation should also step up to stop further erosions of protections for vulnerable seniors.
The recent federal move to scale back fines is not helpful. Neither is another effort from the administration in 2016 — a proposal that would take away residents’ rights to sue nursing homes. Any change to elder care safeguards should be driven by seniors, their families and medical experts — not simply enacted because the industry wants it.
[links in original]